Governor for internal-combustion engines



April 13 192s. 1,580,231 A. A, BULL aovmnon FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION mamas Filed, July 26, 1920 a Sheets-Shoe} 1 April 13 1926.

K. BULL GOVERNOR FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed July 2 6. 1920 s gheets-sneet 5 governor mechanism Patented Apr. 13,1926.-

UNITED 'STA A. BULL, or DETROIT,

ARTHUR- TION, or DETROIT, MICHIGAN,

mxcnrean,

TES ,PA'TEN'TI- OFFICE.

ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL MOTORS CORPORA- A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

GOVERNOR FOB INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGIiNES.

Application filed July 26,

To all whom it may concern. v I

lie, it known that I, ARTHUR A. BULL, a

subject of the King of Great Britain, and a resident of Detroit, county of \Vayne, and

' tion ve1'i; 'ines,and particularly to'automatie mechanism therefor designed to ,YUYPTHOI' regulate the speed of the engine by control.- ling the flow of combustible mixture thereto. The principal object of my invention is to provide improved governor mechanism. for internal combustion engines whereby the speed thereof may-be maintained constant when in operation, the mechanism in question employing a centrifugal governor as a part thereof and the speed of the engine being governed by throttling the supply of combustible mixture thereto.

A further object of my invention is to provide in'iproved automatically operating for controlling the speed of internal combustion engines and wherein the governor mechanism in its entirety may be regarded as made up of two :a rate units, each independent of the other and each capable of being manufactured, assembled and adjusted apart from the other and apart from the engine with which it may subsequently be used; one of said units comprising a centrifugal governor device responsive to variations in the speed of the engine when the same is in use, and the other comprising a throttle valve device :tor controlling the flow of combustible mixtafe through a passage which leads to the engine; the two units thus provided being subsequently attached to the engine with which they are to be used andconnected with one another so that the valve device in question will be controlled by the centrifugal gover nor mechanism referred to. I

' it further object of my invention is to provide improvements in and relating to various sub-combinations of elements, and

various auxiliary parts, elements, and features of governor mechanisrn'of the classto 1920. Serial No. 398,912.

which this application relates, all as will more fully and at length hereinafter appear.

\Vith the above and other objects of invention in view, my invention consists in the improved governor mechanism for internal panying drawings and hereinafter described and claimed; and in such variations and :modifications thereof, within the scope of the concluding claims, as will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which my-invention relates.

Referring panying cation and wherein the preferred embodimen't ofny invention isillustrated:

Figure-l is a View illustrating an internal combustion engine in side elevation, the samebeing equipped with governor mechanism made in accordance ,With' my invention, the view being employed to show the arrangement of the parts which form the speed controlling mechanism relative to one another and-to. the engine.

- Figure2 is a fragmentary view'upon a larger scale showing the governor mechanism as seen from a position to the right of Figure 1, the view being partly in elevation and partly in section upon a transverse plane centralrelative to the engine, and passing through the'throttle valve and parts directly connected therewith. 1

, Figure 3 is a view for the most part in section showing the centrifugal governor unit of my improved governor mechanism by itself, and upon a vertically extending plane extending longitudinally thereof and indicated by the line 3, 3, Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a view showing the inlet and exhaust manifolds and the throttle valve:

unit of my improvedgovernor mechanism in side elevation, toge mechanism for the throttle valve in section upon a vertically extending plane indicated by the line 4, 4:, Figure 2.

Figure 5' 's a view showing the throttle valve unit of my improved governor mechanism in plan, and as seen looking downward from the plane 5, 5, Figures 2 and 3.

Figure 6 is a view showing the means for adjusting the' throttle valvev and for looking the operating means therefor and seal ing the same after it has been properly ad justed in elevation, and as seen from a position to the right ofFigure 5.-

combustion engines illustrated in the accomher with the operating nowto the drawings accomand forming a part of this speciti- Figure 7 is a. view showing a modified form of locking mechanism for locking the disc whereby the throttle valve is adjusted in position.

Figure 8 is a view showing a section of the centrifugal governor unit or device of my invention upon a horizontal plane indicated by the line 8, 8, Figures 2 and 3.

Figure 9 is a view showing a section of the said governor device upon a vertical plane indicated by the line 9, 9, Figures 3 and 8.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary view showing the gear cover plate opening provided for the centrifugal governor unit of my improved governor as closed by a plate, as is done when the engine is not to be provided with automatically operating gox ernor mechanism.

Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral 11 designates an internal combustion engine of any suitable type such, for example, as of the multiple cylinder type with cylinders arranged parallel with one another, 12 the head thereof, 13 the supply manifold through which a combustible mixture formed by a carburetor 14: flows to the various cylinders of the engine, and 15 the exhaust manifold through which the exhaust gases fiowfrom .the'engine; the supply and exhaust manifolds 13,15 being located both upon one side of the cylinder block and the same being formed as a single integral structure in the engine illustrated in Figure 1.

The end of the crank case 16 of the engine or of a gear compartment thereof is closed by a gear cover 17 adjacent or within which the gearing which operates the camshaft of the engine is located, but which gearing is not illustrated in detail as the same forms no part""of the invention to which this present application relates; and the said gear cover or casing 17 is provided with a projecting portion 18 which extends beyond the side wall of the cylinder block as best shown in "Figure 2 and is provided with an opening over which the hollow housing 19 of the centrifugal governor mechanism or unit of my improved governor device is secured as by means of bolts 20; the said housing and, as necessarily follows, "the centrifugal governor unit of my improved governor 'being supported by the gear cover or casing 17 in a position offset from the plane of the adjacent side wall of the cylinder block and crank case of the engine, as will be appreciated. As stated above, the gearing through which the cam shaft and often the igniting mechanism, the fan, and other auxiliary elements of the engine are operated is covered by the ear cover 17, and said gearing is commonly made up of several gears one of which is designated by the reference numeral 21; which gear 2l -is in mesh with a pinion 22 e ed. to a slee e wh ch is r t y The pinion 22 is secured to and acts to v drive'the sleeve 23 in the embodiment of my invention illustrated; and the reference numeral 124 designates a ball cage formed, preferably, from a comparatively thin sheet metal blank suitably shaped to provide a plurality of laterally extending trough-like pockets or recesses 25, seeFigure 9, within each of which a ball 26 is located; the outer ends of said chambers or pockets being inclined, as shown at 125 in Figure 3, so that as the said balls are thrown outward by centrifugal force due to the rotation of the ball cage they will co-operate with said inclined portions to force an annular plate or disc 27 which they engage to the right. The-annular plate or disc 27 surrounds the sleeve 23 and is carried by a sleeve 28 which is slidable upon the sleeve 23, and 29 designates a flange or washer which is in engagement with the two side arms 30 of an oscillating bifurcated yoke the lower end, of which is secured-to a sleeve 31. The sleeve 31 is loosely supported upon a shaft 32 the ends of which are supported in lugs 33 extending from the housing 19, see Fig ure 9; and the upper end 34 of this bifurcated yoke is provided with an eye through which a sleevew-nut 35 extends, said nut being in threaded engagement with a rod 36 and the same having trunnions 37 which fit into recesses provided in: the upper ends of the yoke, as best'shown in Figure 3, said sleeve being rotatable as by means of a screw driver inserted through an opening 38 to thereby adjust the parts in assembling the governor mechanism and vary the effective length of the controlling rod 36. After the parts are properly adjusted the opening 38 is preferably closed by an expansible plug 39 to thereby prevent the sleeve 35 from being rotated and the proper adjustment of the parts disturbed by unauthorized'or. inexperienced persons.

Suitable ball bearings 40 are preferably provided between the annular disc 27 and the washer 29 to reduce the friction between the parts, and the ball cage 124 is provided with lugs 41 shown as formed integrally therewith and whichenter slots 42 provided for their reception in the hub of the pinion 22; from which'it will be appreciated thatortions 125 of the recesses wherein said Balls are contained, thus moving the annular plate 27 to the right and swinging the bifurcated yoke 3+ about. thepivotal connection at the lower end thereof provided by the pin 32, the sleeve 28 which carries the ball bearing 40 being slidable upon the rotating sleeve 23. This movement of the bifurcated yoke moves the rod 36 to the right and operates a throttle valve associated with the mixture supply conduit which leads to the engine to thereby regulate the flow of combustible mixture to :the engine, as will next appear.

The reference numeral 43 designates a disc which rotates with the ball cage 12-1 and the periphery of which moves close to the inner wall of an annular flange 44.- at the open side of the housing 19, which flange fits, into the opening in the gear-cover or casing 17 provided for said housing, as shown in Figures 3, 8 and 9; the purpose of said disc being" to prevent portions of the'centrifugal governor mechanism which is assembled within the hollow housing 19 from escaping therefrom and passing into the chamber within which the valve operating gear mechanism is located should any of the parts of the centrifugal governor mechanism become broken or disengaged when the engine is in operation.

The reference numeral 45 designates the casing or housin of the throttle valve unit of my improved governor mechanism, the upper end thereof being connected with the inlet manifold 13 of' the engine in any way as by means of suitable bolts 46 while thelower end of said housing is adapted to be connected with the carburetor 14, said housing having a passage 47 through which com-- bustible mixture flows to the engine and having also preferably a heatlng chamber 48 through which exhaust gases from the exhaust manifold 15 may pass through a suitstructure separate intake manifold, so that it provides a unitary 4 able conduit to thereby heat the combustible mixture passing through the element in question. i

The housing 45, it will be observed, is a from the carburetor and device independent of the engine with which the throttle valve and mechanism associated therewith may be assembled to thereby provide a unitary throttle 'va-lve' device, and said housing is provided with a cylindrical portion 49 extending from the rear wall thereof whereby a chamber 50 is provided the open-end of which is closed by a cover 51; said cover having an inwardly extending flange 52 provided with a circumferentially extending groove into which the end of one or more screws 53, see Figure 7 extends, so

that the cover may be rotated within the open end of the chamber 50 within which the flange 52 fits. Theperiphery of this cover is I length appear.

provided with a series of notches 54; and the reference numerals 55 designate bolts extending into cars 56 in theprojectiug portion -19, and the position of which bolts is such that the shanks of the bolts just under the heads lie-within the recess 54 to thereby prevent rotation of the cover 51; the said bolts being provided with holes through which a wire 57 may pass the ends of which are fastened together by a seal- 57' to thereby seal the cover in place and in proper position after the governormechanism has been properly adjusted as will hereinafter and at Figure 7 illustrates a modified form of locking arrangement in which a locking bolt 58 so located as to lie within one of the recesses 54 of the cover is employed, which bolt is supported in passages provided in lugs 59, and is locked to the cylindrical portion 49 by a lock (50 the hasp of which extends through a bolt. F

The reference numeral (S1 designates a throttle valve which is supported by an oscillating shaft 62 and whereby the flow ol" combustible mixture through the pacsage 47 may be controlled The shaft -62 is supported inbearings provided in the housing 15 of the throttle valve unit, and the inner end of said shaft extends into the chamber 50 and is provided thereinwith an arm 68 augularly adjustable thereupon, as shown in Figure 4. Also located in the chamber 50 is a spring 64 the inner'end of which is connected with the oscillating shaft'G2 as shown at 65, Figure 2, while the outer end of said spring is connected with the inwardly extending'ledge 52 of the'eover 51, as indicated at (it in Figure 1; from which it follows that the tension exerted by the spring 64 upon the throttle valve shaft 62 and through said shaft and the arm 63 upon the rod 36 which is pivotallyconnected with the free end of the said arm at 67, may be varied by rotating the cover 51 within-the open end of thehousing 49; and that after the tension of the spring has been properly adjusted the cover may be locked in position by the bolts 55 or the rod 58, which holding element may be then looked and sealed in position as above explained to thereby prevent the tension of the spring and the adjustment of the governor mechanism as a whole from being disturbed by unauthorized persons after the parts have been once properly adjusted.

hole provided in the said i The rod 36 through which motion of the 49 of the throttle valve unit of the governor mechanism; and Figure 10 shows how the opening provided for the reception of the centrifugal governor unit of my improved governor mechanism may be closed by a auxiliary plate 69 if the engine is not to be properly assembled and adjusted and subsequently handled as a unit entirely separate from the engine with which it may eventually be used. In the same Way all the elements concerned with the regulation of the flow of combustible mixture through the supply passage 47 may be assembled and adjusted relative to one another and relative to the housing 45, thus providing a throttle .Valve unit "complete in itself and one which may be manufactured, assembled and adjusted independently of the engine, and thereafter used as a part of a complete engine; the engine thus provided being equipped with a centrifugal governor unit complete in itself and likewise with a throttle valve complete in itself, and the two mechanisms being connected together by means 'of a rod like the rod 36 of proper length, no adjustment of the centrifugal governor, mechanismitself nor of the throttle valve mechanism being necessary after the units in question have been secured to the engineexceptv suchas involves theadjust ment of the rod 36 to proper length by means of the threaded sleeve 35. -It also, follows that one standard form'.-of centrifugal governor'me'chanism unit and onestandard'form' of throttle valve unit or mechanism maybe used with engines having different numbers of cylinders, it being merely .necessary in each particular case to provide a tube 68 and a connecting rod 36 of proper length to extend between the centrifugal governor unit and the throttle valve unit in the case of each particular engine.

Having thus described and explained my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent;

1. In governor mechanism of the class described, a hollow housing; centrifugal governor mechanism located within said housing andsupported in its entirety therefrom; a pinion whereby said governor mechanism is driven supporting means for supporting said housing from the engine and in position such that said pinion will mesh with a gear of the engine, so that said mechanism may be attached to and removed from the engine in 7 its entirety and as a single unitary device; a mixture supply conduit through whichcombustible mixture flows to the engine; a valve 'for controlling the flow( through said conduit; and a, rod operated by said centrifugal governor mechanism and operatively connected with said valve.

2. In kgovernor mechanism of the class described, centrifugal governor mechanism;

'means for driving said centrifugal governor mechanism; means whereby said centrifugal governor mechanism in its entirety may be attached to and removed from an engine as a single unitary device, and which attaching mechanism is so constructed and arranged that when said mechanism is secured to an engine the driving means therefor will be engaged by an element of the engine; a throttle valve adapted to control the flow of combustible mixture to the engine; and means intermediate said centrifugal governor mechanism and said throttle valve through which the position of said throttle valve may be controlled.

. In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

ARTHUR A. BULL. 

